Agriplace’s Post

🌱 New #Resource Alert: OECD - OCDE #Handbook on Due Diligence for Living Incomes and Wages 🌱   The OECD recently published a new handbook to help companies in the agriculture, garment, and footwear supply chains understand and address risks related to #living #incomes and #living #wages. This resource offers practical #guidance on applying the #due #diligence #framework to close income and wage gaps by contextualizing existing recommendations. 📘   Alongside tools like the Agriplace Sustainability Risk Assessment Tool, available to SSI members, which helps companies identify, assess, and mitigate risks in their supply chains, this handbook provides a #roadmap for companies of all sizes, in any location, and at any stage of the supply chain to identify and respond to income and wage risks .🌍👩🌾 SSI believes that this handbook is a significant step toward enhancing #responsible business conduct and serves as a valuable reference in bridging income gaps and supporting #sustainable #practices. 🤝🌱   Learn more about the handbook and its potential to drive meaningful #change in the spices sector and beyond. 📖👉 https://lnkd.in/eDxMdSEU #SustainableSpices #LivingIncome #LivingWages #DueDiligence #Sustainability Image credit: OECD - OCDE

💡 New guidance available: The OECD - OCDE released a new handbook on enabling #livingincomes and #livingwages in agriculture, garment, and footwear supply chains. Here are the key takeaways and action points for companies: 🔄 Embed living income and living wage due diligence into policies and management systems 🔍 Assess Risks and Impacts: Evaluate whether your practices contribute to living income /wage gaps in own operations and among prioritised suppliers 📝 Prioritize and Plan: Focus on areas with significant living wage / income gaps and develop strategies to address the root causes, incl. by reviewing own purchasing practices 💡 Implement Solutions: Consider measures like establishing long-term supplier relationships, direct pricing increases, and productivity enhancements 📈 Monitor Progress: Track key indicators, ensuring workers, unions, and farmers play an integral role in the monitoring process 🤝 Collaborate: Engage in wage-setting processes aligned with ILO principles and provide for or cooperate in remediation efforts ➡ The handbook is a useful resource for companies looking for an overview of what living wage & income is all about and how to move from commitment to action: https://lnkd.in/eDvGzSWN #ResponsibleBusiness #LivingWage #SupplyChainDueDiligence #OECD #bizhumanrights

Always evolving: Aligning Worldfavor’s content with topical high-risk issues and legislations 🌍   I am very proud that at Worldfavor we are constantly developing to provide customers with sustainability content that is aligned with new standards and guidelines, emerging high-risk topics, and of course due diligence legislations.     Today I listened in to the launch of the OECD Handbook on Due Diligence for Enabling Living Incomes and Living Wages in Agriculture, Garment and Footwear Supply Chains, and I learnt more on business' best practices on the topics. 🍅 👕     Now, you may ask why living wages and living incomes are important for companies in the two focus sectors? Well, here are some of the reasons: ➡ The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that 50% of workers worldwide do not earn a formal wage because they work as smallholders or homeworkers  ➡The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) highlights how low wages in agricultural supply chains, in addition to factors such as seasonal labor, contributes to precarious working conditions  ➡In the garment sector, wages are often below the poverty line due to e.g. high competition and poor purchasing practices, which often lead to excessive overtime and insecure contracts  ➡Women, predominant in the agricultural and garment sectors, face gender pay gaps and discrimination  ➡The above expose workers to poverty and leads to other human rights risks    The very practical handbook provides businesses with tools to address living income and living wage gaps in their supply chains through applying the OECD’s six-steps due diligence framework. The due diligence method guides companies in how they can enable wages that satisfy workers’ and their families’ basic needs as part of responsible business conduct. I really recommend everybody to read it!   What does this have to do with content at Worldfavor?  The handbook will be a good complementary source for customers in addition to our new content on both living wages and living incomes. Another teaser: as we recently reviewed our content’s alignment with Åpenhetsloven, LkSG and the CSDDD we also added the human rights risk of indigenous peoples’ rights.    We are constantly on the look out for emerging topics and guides to evolve, for the benefit of the people and the planet! If you are curious about our current offerings, don’t hesitate to book a demo!

Bangladesh Reform Part-6 Interim Government Must Speak out for Bangladesh The Bangladesh Government is making the greatest effort to provide a better life for its people, while at the same time trying to put an end to the with endemic corruption which has been a plague.  Of course, these must be Government’s number-one priorities.  However, there is another priority:  The fight for global support.  Currently, that fight has been left in the hands of the corrupt politicians and the old corrupt organizations such as the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) A week ago, The Financial Times published an article “Global Fashion Brands Cut Orders After Turmoil”, which speaks of recent events from the point of view of those who have lost control. Who in government will write a reply? Yes, the recent events have caused temporary disruption, but for well over a year, retailers and importers have been fleeing Bangladesh to the point when Bangladesh has become the world’s single worst performing garment exporters. Among the reasons for this collapse is the fact that consumers now object to industries that fail to provide decent working conditions and true sustainability.  In this regard, Bangladesh became a pariah           Wages are the lowest among garment industry suppliers          Working conditions are the worst          Attempts to develop unions are met with clubs and guns.          When workers demonstrate for past due  payment wages, they are beaten and shot. Sustainability is a joke.  While 15+ factories claim to be at the level platinum sustainability, they and the other 6000 factories confuse green washing  with actual sustainability. At the end of the day, if the FOB price in Bangladesh were $0, retailers and importers could NOT afford to work there. Government must fight lies with truth.  Statements from BGMEA cannot be believed. Their data is worthless.  Indeed the International Trade Center (ITC) has not accepted Bangladesh data since 2015. The 2013 Rana Plaza disaster - the greatest catastrophe in the history of the global garment industry where 1100 workers were killed - was perpetrated by the Hasina’s corrupt government.  In a country where buying a building permit is more cost effective than buying decent building materials,  Rana Plaza events became inevitable. Dr. Yunus, you have story to tell, you must tell it. The Financial Times is one of the world’s most respected newspaper. I am confident they will publish anything you submit, and I would think that given the discrepancies between the “Global Brands Cut Orders. . . “ and reality, their editorial people will have something to say on the subject.

Some insightful thoughts on the OECD - OCDE forum on Due Diligence in the Garment and Footwear sectors from Sustainabelle Advisory Services intern Noah Berggren… #sustainablefashion #sustainablebusiness #duediligence #livingwage #sustainablesupplychains

Bangladesh Reform Part 4:  The Strategy We all Need Dr. Yunus’ interim government has a unique opportunity to bring benefit, not only to his own people but, at the same time, to bring benefit to workers everywhere. For years the Bangladesh garment industry has been condemned by its customers - the importers and retailers - as home to the worst working conditions and most unsustainable conditions. Ironically, the retailers and importers themselves have been condemned by their customers - the consumers - for the very same reasons. In truth, to date, both criticisms are valid. Despite all the talk, commitments, and false promises, Bangladesh is but one of the many countries that mistreat their workers and block real  efforts to improve sustainability with green-washing Bangladesh and Dr Yunus’ interim government has the unique opportunity to bring not only change to Bangladesh, but also to influence other countries everywhere. At the same time this will benefit both retailer and supplier sides. The way forward is quite doable. ·      The first step is to enroll a very few - 4-5- most reliable garment importers to create specific standards for both factory working conditions and sustainability ·      These standards would then become legal regulations. ·      Importers’ buying offices would inspect to ensure that these standards are rigorously maintained at all supplier factories. ·      Any lapses will be reported to the relevant Dr. Yunus’ established agency who, having replaced the existing corrupt operations, will impose real penalties. The Bangladesh model will become the new standard for ethical production, to be replicated in garment industries world-wide. 

On Leather Supply Chains Deforestation prevention: "A lot of companies have invested heavily in recent years in Traceability software to be able to track back on Suppliers". - Deborah Taylor, PQCI, ASLTC at https://lnkd.in/eg3VkYT6 A disadvantage to Traceability Software? When companies change suppliers, (some) have to start chasing data to track down the new supplier's supply chain for Human Rights and Environmental due diligence. Solution? ....At times, certifications might be more useful. I would point out though, that at this stage (until they have more investment to have better assessments), certifications can't be relied on alone, and companies need to do further due diligence to verify Environmental and Social performance, as currently certifications can be incentives for falsification. A Summary? There is no one tick answer on Supply Chains due diligence need per new EU Directives and other law, and to realise protection of Nature and Human Rights,.. but there are plenty of quick wins which can help along the way.

✨ Boosting the Indian Textile Industry: Key Benefits from the 2024 Union Budget The Union Budget for FY 2024 has outlined significant measures to invigorate the Indian textile industry, reflecting the government’s commitment to nurturing this vital sector. Here’s a detailed look at the key benefits provided: 1. Increased Allocation for Schemes: The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, which has been instrumental in driving textile manufacturing and export growth, has received a substantial funding boost. This enhancement aims to incentivize higher production levels and foster competitiveness on a global scale. 2. Support for Skill Development: Recognizing the need for skilled labor in the textile industry, the budget allocates additional resources for skill development programs. These initiatives are designed to upskill workers, address labor shortages, and improve productivity within the sector. 3. Infrastructure Development: Investment in textile parks and infrastructure is set to receive a significant boost. This includes improvements in logistics and supply chain management, which are crucial for enhancing operational efficiency and reducing costs for textile manufacturers. 4. Sustainability Initiatives: The budget emphasizes the adoption of sustainable practices in the textile industry. Funding is allocated for eco-friendly technologies and waste management systems, aiming to reduce the sector’s environmental impact and promote greener production methods. 5. Export Incentives: To bolster the industry’s global presence, extended export incentives and support mechanisms are introduced. These include subsidies and tax benefits designed to enhance export competitiveness and open new markets for Indian textiles. 6. Innovation and R&D: Increased support for research and development is also highlighted. This funding aims to drive innovation in textile technology and product development, ensuring the industry remains at the forefront of global trends and consumer demands. These strategic measures from the 2024 Union Budget are set to transform the Indian textile industry, driving growth, sustainability, and global competitiveness. #IndianTextiles #TextileIndustry #UnionBudget2024 #PLIIncentives #SkillDevelopment #TextileInfrastructure #SustainabilityInTextiles #EcoFriendlyFashion #ExportGrowth #TextileInnovation #R&DInTextiles #ManufacturingGrowth #TextileParks #SustainableFashion #GlobalCompetitiveness #IndianManufacturing #TextileTrends #BudgetImpact #IndustrySupport #FashionRevolution

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 #𝗖𝗕𝗔𝗠 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 #𝗳𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 #𝘁𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆? 👗The fashion and textile industry is historically marked by high carbon emissions and significant environmental impact. Many products in this industry are manufactured in countries with less stringent climate regulations, leading to higher emissions during production. 👕In its transitional phase (2023-2026), the textiles sector is not part of the CBAM tax regime,. However, given the high emissions involved in the manufacturing process of the textiles, it is expected to come under its umbrella in the years following the definitive regime (2026-2034). 🧥Once CBAM applies, selling textile and garment products in the EU will become more expensive for exporters, because they will be responsible for paying the tax on the associated carbon emissions. It will likely result in higher prices for textile products in the EU, potentially leading to reduced demand and subsequent job losses in exporting countries which could prompt businesses to relocate to countries with lower production costs, impacting the economies of exporting nations. As the tax applies to goods imported into the EU it could hinder the competitiveness of these exporters compared to the European businesses. 👖The impact of the CBAM on textile and garment exporters will depend on various factors, including the carbon intensity of their production, compliance costs, and alternative market options. So do not sit back and wait, but start becoming more sustainable so you can meet future requirements and start emitting less GHG. This will ensure your products remain competitive. Demand might even increase because your products are more sustainable. #EU #Vietnam #GreenDeal

It was an honour to contribute a supplier perspective to the OECD - OCDE Panel on "Brand Due Diligence Strategies for Living Wages" at the 2024 Forum on Due Diligence in the Garment and Footwear Sector! Many thanks to Julia del Valle at OECD - OCDE for the invitation. I found the insights shared by my fellow panellists, including Filip Stefanovic from the Trade Union Advisory Committee (TUAC) to the OECD, Fiona Dragstra from the WageIndicator Foundation and PRATHIKA K. from SanMar extremely valuable. Our discussions were thoughtfully moderated by Peter McAllister from the Ethical Trading Initiative. Each of us has a crucial role to play in facilitating the payment of living wages, whether as governments, trade associations, unions, brands, suppliers, factories, or NGOs. However, I've noticed a recurring narrative regarding pushing suppliers, which I believe overlooks the broader responsibility each of us bears in enabling fair wages. Instead of solely emphasizing 'pressure', I urge everyone to reflect on their roles in 'enabling' living wages and assess how we can do better. Perhaps this could lead to improved partnerships and collective action on the topic of living wages and other intersectional ESG challenges. It's something I'm working on.